I hate the way her voice quivers.
Mom is barely in her fifties, but I swear she looks twice her age whenever we’re around Jude.
“Good, I also want the rest of Olivia’s things moved into my house.”
Anyone would think I’m a fucking child the way my mother has to answer for me. I don’t have the usual freedoms a woman my age should have. And, when I start living with him, I won’t have any. He’ll treat me like an animal no one wants.
“All her things are virtually there already.” Mom nods.
“Just make sure it’s all done before I get back from New York.” He moves a lock of his dark hair away from his eyes.
“It will be done.”
That trip to New York will at least give us a break from him, and maybe the window of opportunity we need.
He’ll be back next week.
All I can do is hope Amy comes up with the information we need to find Eric.
Eric, my brother, the rightful heir to our family’s company, who Jude declared dead five years ago.
Except Eric’s not dead.
Jude did something to him. I don’t know what that something is, or where he’s been keeping my brother, but Eric’s alive.
Finding him is the part I have to figure out.
I don’t doubt Amy will do her best to find out what she can.That’s not what I’m worried about.She’s been a friend to me for years, and the only person who works at the company I can trust with a secret I shouldn’t know.
What worries me is the possibility that she might not find anything.
If that happens, I’ll have to marry this monster, and he’ll get my family’s legacy.
He’ll take control of our lives and Markov Tech, the company my grandfather started in Moscow decades ago.
The only thing worse than that is if Amy gets caught snooping and Jude kills her.
I don’t know how I’d be able to live with myself if that happened.
“Julia, if you don’t mind, I’d like a private word with my wife to be,” Jude says, cutting into my thoughts.
“Of course,” Mom replies, casting an uneasy glance toward me.
She doesn’t want to leave me with him.She never does. I know she never meant for things to turn out the way they did.Nobody did.
She’s a victim like me and I hate she’s had to live the last five years of her life terrified of this man, especially after all she’s been through.
Deep down I know if she still had the use of her legs, she’d grab me and run.
It’s not that I haven’t thought of doing the same.I just know if I ever attempt such a thing without having leverage, Jude will kill her to teach me a lesson.
She’s expendable, and the person he holds over me to do his bidding.
Mom glances at me over her shoulder before she goes through the door.Then she’s gone.
When I return my focus to Jude his gaze intensifies into that soulless look.I want to look away, but the last time I did I was punished for my disrespect.
Not seeing the light of day for a little over a month because Jude kept me locked in my room, is enough to show me the extent of his cruel hand.